Unexplainable Your gut’s feelings
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Oct 16, 2024 
Michael Gershon, a pathology professor at Columbia University, discusses the surprising connection between our gut health and emotional well-being. He explores how the gut microbiome affects mood and personality, suggesting that unseen microbial life might influence how we feel. Gershon examines fascinating studies linking gut bacteria to mental health issues like anxiety and depression. The conversation also touches on the potential of probiotics for enhancing mood, although they are not a one-size-fits-all solution.
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Gut Health and Mental Health
- Some TikTokers claim gut bacteria affects mental health, discussing its impact on mood disorders like anxiety and depression.
- This has fueled a growing gut health industry worth billions, promoting fermented foods, supplements, and expensive pills.
Mice and Microbiomes
- Researchers experimented on mice with different temperaments, swapping their gut bacteria through fecal microbiota transplants.
- The bold mice became shyer with timid mouse gut microbes, and the timid mice became bolder, demonstrating a link between gut bacteria and behavior.
Human vs. Mice
- While mice and human organs and development have similarities, they also have key differences, like mice cannot express emotions verbally.
- Studies show that mice colonized with gut bacteria from depressed humans exhibit depression symptoms, including faster "giving up" in swim tests and a pro-inflammatory profile.
